Thumbs Up, Level Up

Chapter 144

The next day, Ji-Cheok immediately headed to Seong Kwang’s ranch on his bike.

“Welcome, Brother Ji-Cheok.”

Seong Kwang greeted Ji-Cheok at the gate of the ranch, wearing his work overalls.

“Your clothes look kind of small on you, are you okay?”

Seong Kwang laughed.

“It’s okay. My joints are starting to hurt, I think I’m going through my second puberty. I’ll try to wear this as long as possible. Then when I can’t anymore, I am going to buy all new clothes at once.”

‘Well, everyone goes through the second puberty at his age. He seems to be experiencing growth pain. I really hope you get a lot taller. Don’t stop growing the way I did.’

“By the way, Brother Ji-Cheok. Is what you said true? Because I still cannot believe it.”

Seong Kwang said with a slightly puzzled expression.

‘I wouldn’t believe someone if that someone just called me and said ‘you can learn cultivation too!’.’

“It’s definitely possible, don’t worry. You can trust your Brother Ji-Cheok.”

Seong Kwang’s expression lightened slightly.

“That would be great! If I become stronger, I will be able to protect the ranch and the orphanage much better. But I see that Cheok-Liang didn’t tag along today.”

“I left him at home. Even though he’s a summoned beast, he needs a break.”

Cheok-Liang was actually collecting data for their future work, but that was a secret.

“You are so generous. Okay, come this way,” Seong Kwang said.

Ji-Cheok followed Seong Kwang into the ranch, and then inside the empty warehouse.

“I emptied it as you told me to. Would this suffice you?”

“I just need a space without people. The real question is how much talent you have, because that’s the important part. Basically, the younger you are, the easier it is to learn cultivation. It might be a bit late for you to learn cultivation.”

“Still, it’s very interesting that I can learn cultivation without the help of the System.”

“I also found out recently. It’s because of the [Statue of the God of War] I got from Director Jung Ji-Han.”

Ji-Cheok explained the existence of the God of War. Seong Kwang was very intrigued by his story.

“I didn’t know something like that existed. It’s like a holy relic.”

“I didn’t know about it either before I got it. But anyway, as a result, I learned something new like this.”

‘There is something called the law of equivalence in the world. When I sacrificed my arms, the God of War gave me the true principles. This is the real alchemy of the God.’

“But I wonder why you chose me first,” Seong Kwang said.

Ji-Cheok put his hand in his [Shadow Pouch].

“That’s because you are the youngest among our team members.”

Obviously, Ji-Cheok wanted to teach cultivation to his younger brother first, but Mu-Cheok was out for the day. Then, why not train someone else, instead of waiting for Mu-Cheok to come back? Ji-Byeok and Ha-Na were older than Seong Kwang, and they had already mastered skills related to close combat. However, Seong Kwang was a healer, so he had no close combat skills, and he was still at an age where his muscles and bones had not yet reached the limits of their growth. He had the highest chance of successfully learning cultivation.

“And if you die in battle, that means our entire team is in danger. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could learn some self-defense?”

“Wow… You seem to have plans for everything,” Seong Kwang said.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Flap.

Ji-Cheok took out a mat from the [Shadow Pouch] and laid it on the floor. He took off his shoes and got on the mat. He gestured to Seong Kwang to do the same.

Seok Kwang also took off his shoes and followed Ji-Cheok.

“Please, take good care of me, Brother Ji-Cheok.”

“I’ll do my best. Just sit there. Do you know how to sit in the lotus position?”

“I know how to do that. As a priest, I also have to meditate.”

Seong Kwang sat cross-legged. It seemed like it wasn’t his first time doing it, because he looked comfortable in that posture.

“Alright, I’ll start with the explanation. The beginning of cultivation is training your Qi.”

“Qi… Is that like mana that accumulates in the Dantian?”

“Yeah, exactly. If you can build up your Qi, it means that you can be a cultivator.”

These were the teachings that he had received from the God of War. He properly explained to Seok Kwang about Qi training, while his teammate nodded with a curious expression.

“Anyway, Seong Kwang, it’s impossible for you to fully master cultivation, because you also have the original job you received through the System. Still, it’s very beneficial if you cultivate. It will increase your physical attributes, and also speed up your mana recovery rate.”

“I see.”

“For that reason, I am only going to teach you two things.”

“What things?”

“The [Heaven and Earth Iron Stance] and the [Heaven and Earth Divine Art].”

[Heaven and Earth Iron Stance] was the external cultivation technique that Ji-Cheok learned in the past. The technique had allowed his body to become tougher and stronger, and it had also increased his stamina. That was the only effect from this cultivation skill, but it was worth it because it gave the user the same defense and endurance as a tank.

Normally, a cultivator could not learn [Heaven and Earth Iron Stance] without fully mastering [Heaven and Earth Divine Art]. The reason why Ji-Cheok could teach this was because he had been taught how to train his Qi by the God of War. The cultivator had to create [Heaven and Earth Qi] using the [Heaven and Earth Divine Art], and train while gently feeding this Qi into their body. That was the proper order of things for mastering the [Heaven and Earth Iron Stance]. Unfortunately, not receiving a cultivation skill through the System meant that things would only take much longer.

“If you take the proper steps to train… you have to train for a really long time. I’m going to use Qi Guidance on you to help speed things up,” Ji-Cheok said.

Ji-Cheok did the same thing he had learned from the God of War. It was possible to recreate what he had felt while being trained by the God, thanks to the genius ability of [Heaven Martial Body]. Of course, it would’ve been hard to forget even if Ji-Cheok wanted to, due to the God of War’s approach to teaching.

“Qi Guidance… I have heard of this before. Is that like pushing Qi into someone else’s body to control it?” Seong Kwang asked.

“That’s exactly it.”

“Okay, Brother Ji-Cheok. I am ready.”

“Then… Take off your shirt.”

Seong Kwang hesitated for a moment before taking off his top. He didn’t fully train his physical body, so his muscles were not well-defined like other teammates.

‘There are many scars…’

Many people who lacked knowledge would have wondered why a priest who only gave buffs to teammates had so many scars, but Ji-Cheok knew why.

‘Priests usually endure the pain so that they can treat others.’

If the Tanks had to maintain their aggro in a battle, the Healers needed to save mana. They would try to save at least thirty percent of their mana at all times, because they didn’t know what could happen. As they accumulated small wounds because they did not have the leisure to heal themselves, those wounds turned into scars.

Ji-Cheok didn’t know how this young man had ended up becoming Awakened and clearing dungeons like this, but he knew that it couldn’t have been an easy road. The System definitely had a good reason for labeling the man—no, the boy a ‘Zealot’.

Ji-Cheok sat behind Seong Kwang with his legs crossed and put both of his hands on Seong Kwang’s back. Seong Kwang flinched for a moment, but that was it.

“Okay, I’m going to start. Try not to resist and feel the flow. You should be able to move your Qi in your body the same way I did,” Ji-Cheok said.

All the Hunters used mana after becoming Awakened. Mana was the same as Qi, and because of that, anyone could control it and make it circulate throughout their body. However, not many people did it, because one small mistake could lead to a mana explosion inside their body. Besides, there were skills that let the Hunters move their mana around, so why would anyone risk their lives for this?

Cultivation knowledge changed everything.

Tssssss.

Ji-Cheok’s Qi entered Seong Kwang’s body, and it slowly started to move along his meridians. Just as expected, Seong Kwang’s mana was spread evenly throughout his body. Ji-Cheok had been just like this before he had received the teachings of the God of War. Of course, it was very different now…

Ji-Cheok planted the seed of Qi in Seong Kwang’s Dantian. Then, he performed a [Microcosmic Orbit] circulation right away.

“Ouch,” Seong Kwang said.

“Be patient. Try not to make a sound. If your Qi is scattered, not only does the training become ineffective, but there is also a risk of Cultivation Deviation.”

Seong Kwang’s back muscles trembled. Ji-Cheok knew this pain all too well. Still, it was not like the God of War randomly shoving his Qi into his body with no consideration for his feelings. Slowly, but surely, Ji-Cheok went full circle around Seong Kwang’s body with his Qi, following the path of Seong Kwang’s meridians. Once, twice, three times, four times, five times… Ji-Cheok’s Qi kept going around, until, finally, he removed his hands from Seong Kwang’s back. As he did so, Seong Kwang actually started to move his Qi around all by himself. He started to perform the [Microcosmic Orbit] by himself!

“Wow…”

‘Seong Kwang really has a talent for learning cultivation!’

Most priests were sensitive to the flow of mana from the get-go. Ji-Cheok thought that this talent seemed to have helped. He kept watching Seong Kwang, and after some time, the latter opened his eyes.

“Whoah, Brother Ji-Cheok… This… is amazing. I can…”

“Can you feel your Qi in your Dantian?”

“Yes, I can. It definitely feels like a warm bead has settled in my Dantian.”

“And doesn’t your body feel energized? Well, the bigger the Qi mass in your Dantian, the greater the effect.”

“Oh, wow… That’s amazing.”

His body had somewhat improved just by having Qi.

“Alright then, there is only one thing to do from now on,” Ji-Cheok said.

“What is it?”

“You have to study.”

“Huh?”

“You just have to go through the motions over and over again.”

Seong Kwang’s expression turned to bewilderment, but there was nothing Ji-Cheok could do. This was not like learning through skills—Seong Kwang had to memorize every step the old-fashioned way.

Thus, Ji-Cheok gave another lesson on Internal Techniques to Seong Kwang.

* * *

“Hyung… I think I’m gonna die…” Mu-Cheok said.

“You went to law school, this should be a piece of cake! What’s wrong with you?” Ji-Cheok said.

“It’s been a while since I stopped studying. It’s natural for my brain to stop working. Also lately, I’ve put all my attention into fighting monsters and I’ve only been training my physical body…”

“Still, you’ve studied a lot before. Stop whining and memorize it.”

When Ji-Cheok got home, Mu-Cheok was also there. And being the good brother that he was, he naturally also made his younger brother train his Qi.

Fortunately, he found out that Mu-Cheok indeed had an aptitude for learning cultivation and was able to set his Qi in his Dantian.

“I think it’s because of my bones. You said that it feels like opening up my Middle Dantian, right?”

Rather than saying that he had an aptitude for learning cultivation, it was more like Ji-Cheok had ‘created’ the aptitude for him.

“Hm… I think you’re right,” Ji-Cheok said.

His bones had been reinforced by a Master Mechanic by using Arcane Engineering that was worth hundreds of billions of won. Not only his mana, but also the circulation of Qi was several times faster than that of an ordinary human. Thanks to this, it was possible for Mu-Cheok to learn cultivation even at his age.

The next part, of course, was to memorize the hell out of the cultivation steps. That was when Mu-Cheok started whining, even though he had studied so much more than Ji-Cheok in the past.

“Memorize it anyway. If you want to properly learn the [Heaven and Earth Divine Art], it is necessary for you to memorize the old scripture that is the key to the internal technique. Internal training means reflecting on the scripture while controlling the Qi in your body, along with the special breathing technique.”

It was certainly more convenient to acquire it with skills, but that was not possible—Mu-Cheok had to memorize it with his own brain and train with his body in order to master cultivation. And even with that, Mu-Cheok could not learn what Ji-Cheok had learned directly from the God of War, nor could he learn the [Heaven and Earth Chaotic Divine Art] like Ji-Cheok had.

“I’m doing it because it’s working, but… By the way, did you also teach this to Seong Kwang?” Mu-Cheok asked.

“Of course, he is our team member. And he reminds me of the old days, so,” Ji-Cheok said.

After his parents had died, he had felt as if his limbs had been ripped off. He wasn’t affected by any sickness; his whole body simply hurt as if he had gotten a harsh beating. It was a sickness of the mind. Yet, even though Ji-Cheok had been shattered psychologically, he had fought against the cruel world with all he had, with the sole purpose of raising his younger brother.

Mu-Cheok seemed to understand what he was saying, so he turned to the stack of papers and started to read through them.

“Is it sympathy?” Mu-Cheok asked.

“To some extent. And he is a trustworthy teammate.”

“I see…”

Ji-Cheok had used his [Print Information] skill to create the book that Mu-Cheok was reading right now. It was a skill that printed the information in his head onto paper, and it was sold at a cheap price at the Likes Shop. With that, he had printed out all the old scriptures of cultivation on paper and gave them to Mu-Cheok. He had done the same thing for Seong Kwang.

Ji-Cheok watched his brother memorize the book and helped him circulate his Qi. He also taught Mu-Cheok the [Heaven and Earth Iron Stance], just as he had taught Seong Kwang. If the two of them hadn’t been Awakened, they wouldn't have been able to learn things this easily. Since they were Hunters, however, after spending a full day under the tutelage of Ji-Cheok, they both were now beginner cultivators and were able to train by themselves.